El "buen cura". Jacinto Vera y la reforma ultramontana del clero en Uruguay, 1859-1881

Objective: To analyze the mechanisms used by the first Bishop of Montevideo, Jacinto Vera, to reform the secular clergy between 1859 and 1881, in order to mold it according to ultramontane ideals and the guidelines of the Holy See. Methodology: Based on the cross-referencing of sources preserved in various ecclesiastical and civil archives, the image of the "good priest" present in documents promulgated by the prelate is examined. Then, the instruments used to control and discipline the clergy are evaluated. Finally, the repercussions of the institutional weakness of the Uruguayan catholic Church and the interventions of the national government in the reform process are considered. Originality: The work represents a significant contribution to the historiography of Catholicism in 19th century Uruguay, given the scant attention paid to the ultramontane reform of the clergy. Furthermore, it offers an original case study within the set of recent research on ultramontanism and the consolidation of ecclesiastical structures in Latin America, thereby contributing to future comparative and intertwined approaches. Conclusions: The study documents how Bishop Vera, committed to a transnational ultramontane culture, undertook a series of actions that laid the foundation for the disciplinary adjustment of the clergy. Ecclesiastical visits, spiritual exercises, and the use of pastoral letters and other forms of written communication were privileged instruments. The numerous obstacles that the reformist proposal faced - such as the disagreements with the civil authorities, the shortage of a mostly foreign and poorly disciplined clergy, and the lack of a seminary- forced the prelate to continuously adjust the mechanisms. Nevertheless, the project had a lasting impact on the institutional memory of Uruguayan Catholicism.